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Laena McCarthy

Teaches at Brooklyn Brainery

Laena is the Founder and CEO of Anarchy in a Jar, a jam and mustard company based in Brooklyn. She grew up making traditional jam with her family in New York’s Hudson Valley, and after a career in science and academia decided to make her passion for jamming into a business. Laena ended up back in New York City at an opportune time, when there was a revived demand for fresh, local, and creative food. With help from her team of tasters, fellow food makers and jam fans, she stirs her eclectic experience into the elixirs of the jar.

Founded in 2009, Anarchy in a Jar makes over 8 varieties of shelf-stable jam, jelly, marmalade, and mustard at their certified facility in Brooklyn, New York. The jams are cooked by hand and all natural, made primarily with produce from local and small farms. They add just enough sugar to preserve the fruit and enhance its natural flavor, combining pure fruit with botanical herbs + spices. Their methods combine old world techniques with modern finesse, bringing innovation to the tradition of jam making.

You can find the jams at many grocery stores and cheese shops throughout the New York region, at Whole Foods Market in the Northeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, and at Publix markets in the South, online, and in select cities nationwide.

Anarchy in a Jar has been featured in The New York Times, The New York Times T Style Magazine, The Martha Stewart Show, New York Magazine, Bust, Elle Japan, Tasting Table, Food & Wine, and Saveur. Laena's cookbook, Jam On: The Craft of Canning Fruit, was published with Penguin in 2012.

Reviews of Laena McCarthy

(23 Reviews)
  • How to Start a Small Business: The Nitty-Gritty Basics

    Reviewed by Nyoka G. on 3/16/2020
  • Self Care for Women

    Reviewed by carolyn p. on 11/6/2019
    I found this class very informative for a new beginning not only in my personal life but in my professional life as a Doula. I hope that she starts a special class for Doulas. I'm looking for more ways to gain knowledge with her on my journal to utilizing herbs in my life. Thank you
  • Do What You Love: How To Start A Holistic Side Hustle

    Anonymous review on 8/21/2019
  • Do What You Love: How To Start A Holistic Side Hustle

    Reviewed by Gabrielle G. on 8/16/2019
  • Do What You Love: How To Start A Holistic Side Hustle

    Reviewed by Claudia G. on 8/15/2019
  • Homemade Hot Sauce

    Reviewed by Jose A. on 9/22/2018
    Great class
  • Self Care for Women

    Reviewed by Tillie S. on 7/17/2018
  • Self Care for Women

    Reviewed by Angela C. on 7/11/2018
  • Self Care for Women

    Anonymous review on 7/10/2018
  • Self Care for Women

    Reviewed by Emily S. on 7/10/2018
  • How to Meditate: An Introduction to Mindfulness

    Reviewed by Sarah S. on 6/13/2018
  • Self Care for Women

    Reviewed by tyheese L. on 6/3/2018
  • Self Care for Women

    Anonymous review on 5/31/2018
    A very enjoyable class although the content was not particular in-depth.
  • Self Care for Women

    Reviewed by Sable M. on 1/30/2018
    This course provided a lot of helpful information that I needed to reset my self-care habits. There was plenty of room for questions, which is where a lot of the valuable knowledge came out. I wish that the class was more interactive and hands on, however, I walked away with enough actionable information.
  • Self Care: Fertility Awareness & Cycle Tracking

    Reviewed by Chloe V. on 1/18/2018
    Very enthusiastic instructor, good advice, perhaps the class was a little too long.
  • Self Care for Women

    Reviewed by Rosnay B. on 1/17/2018
    It’s a great intro class to self care
  • Self Care for Women

    Anonymous review on 11/16/2017
    This class was great! It was super informative but also welcoming & comfortable. Overall, excellent experience.
  • How to Meditate: An Introduction to Mindfulness

    Anonymous review on 11/4/2017
  • How to Start a Small Business: The Nitty-Gritty Basics

    Reviewed by Joseph P. on 10/21/2017
  • How to Start a Small Business: The Nitty-Gritty Basics

    Anonymous review on 10/15/2017
  • Self Care for Women

    Reviewed by Katelyn G. on 7/28/2017
  • Self Care for Women

    Reviewed by prudence n. on 7/23/2017
  • Homemade Jam

    Reviewed by Emma H. on 12/4/2016
    This was a fun class that really inspired me to go home and make jam - which I did this weekend! The teacher was really cool and friendly and I liked her laid back attitude. Would definitely recommend, and would take another class with her in the future for sure. Thanks!

Classes taught by Laena McCarthy

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